NEON THIS WEEK

It’s been called “thunder pop,” or some such nonsense, because no one knows what appellation to brand it with. And so it is with Torche, a hard act to pigeonhole and an even harder band not to dig.

With forest-dense guitars and the occasional fuzzed-out drone, the band has one foot planted in the stoner rock tradition; but its big and buoyant pop hooks make the band instantly more memorable than many peers.

Torche’s latest disc, “Meanderthal,” is among the year’s best, a mountain of riffs squeezed into fat-free tunes that’ll have you humming along upon first listen.

Don’t miss these dudes as part of the Amplify music conference at 11 p.m. Wednesday at the Beauty Bar, 517 Fremont St. Call 598-1965.

— By JASON BRACELIN